| You are probably thinking that an article with the | | | | work displayed around the world and the Obey brand |
| words Obey Obama and bombing propaganda in the | | | | has also grown. Obey clothing is now a clothing |
| title is some sort of reference to US politics and | | | | company in its own right having been operating for 7 |
| terrorism. Sadly it is a much more lighthearted affair. | | | | years. His Obey Giant organisation continues to |
| This is the tale of what happens when a street artist | | | | produce street art and he directs a design company |
| decides to back the first African American democrat | | | | called Subliminal Projects. |
| leader in his campaign to become President of the | | | | Despite all this commercial success Fairey has |
| USA. | | | | remained true to his roots. He still hits the streets and |
| Bombing is a reference to street bombing, a term | | | | fly posts his posters for all to see. Usually these |
| which describes the process of pasting posters and | | | | posters are put in locations that have been scouted |
| stickers across a city in an effort to promote an event | | | | out for a number of days. Fairey has been frequently |
| or cause. The street artist in question is Frank Shepard | | | | arrested by the police for criminal damage and |
| Fairey, an artist who has not only been doing this for | | | | trespassing allegations. So how did a graffiti artist |
| over 20 years but has turned his Obey Giant | | | | becoming involved with a liberal black candidate? |
| propaganda into a brand in its own right. | | | | Shepard has been a long time supporter of Ralph |
| Shepard Fairey was an art student who accidentally | | | | Nader, an independent presidential candidate, political |
| became an iconic street artist after jokingly making a | | | | activist and attorney. It is thought that if Nader had not |
| sticker featuring the wrestler Andre the Giant and the | | | | run for president in the 2000 election then Al Gore |
| phrase "Andre the Giant has a posse". The sticker | | | | would have been elected rather than George W Bush. |
| took on a life of its own and Fairey developed this into | | | | Fairey was inspired to produce Obama posters after |
| the Obey Giant logo that features a re-worked | | | | Obama did well in the Iowa primaries. He was then |
| communist version of Andre's face. Since then | | | | spurred on by a friend who was working on the |
| Shepard's reputation has grown and he is now a | | | | Obama election campaign and the project has been |
| respected street artist who has had exhibitions of his | | | | growing ever since. |